ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN WOLDIA DISTRICT, NORTH WOLLO ZONE, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Woldia district, north Wollo Ethiopia was conducted from 1 May to August 29, 2019 in Woldiya District, North Wollo Zone, and Amhara National Regional State. The overall objective of this study was to conduct ethnobotanical survey and document plant species, which have medicinal value for both human and livestock in Woldiya district. One hundred informants from four kebeles were selected to this study randomly and purposively. Ethnobotanical data were gathered using semi-structured interview, field observation, group discussion. The collected data was quantified using informant consensus, preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, and fidelity level index. 70 medicinal plant species belonging to 62 genera and 39 families used to treat human and livestock health problems were collected. Out of the total collected plant species56,80% were used to treat only human ailments, 6 plant species8.5% to treat only livestock ailments and8 plant species 11.4% to treat both human and livestock ailments. The most frequently used plant parts in disease treatments were leaves 36, 51.4% followed by roots 10, 14.2% and the whole parts 4, 5.7% and others. The most frequently sources and growth forms of medicinal plants are wild and shrubs 64.3% and 38.5% respectively. Disease categories with relatively higher ICF values were stomach related problem 0.90;maternal and fertility problems 0.8.The most effective medicinal plants to treat febrile was Ocimum lamiifolium stood first among the seven plants species followed by Zehneria scabra.Fidelity level results show that Ocimum lamiifolium,Aloe sp and Ziziphus sp have high medicinal values against febril,malaria and devil disease respectively. The result of this study showed that, there was high diversity of medicinal plants knowledge among local people of Woldiya district, but they harvest them with little awareness of the threat they pose to the vegetation resource. Therefore, awareness creation among the society must be done by agricultural workers, district administrators, ensure sustainable harvesting be practiced. The documentation of medicinal plants and the associated knowledge on threats are vital for sustainable use of medicinal plants in the study area.